Bear kills missing hunter in Kananaskis Country

BANFF, Alta. – Mounties say a hunter who had been missing in southern Alberta’s Kananaskis Country was found dead Monday after a fatal bear attack.

RCMP would not confirm the identity of the hunter but it’s thought to be Rick Cross, a 54-year-old Calgary business man who was reported missing by his family after he did not return from a sheep hunting trip near PickleJar Lakes on the weekend.

RCMP said a ground and air search was begun for the hunter on Sunday.

“Evidence was located suggesting that the hunter had been injured at a location approximately four kilometres east from the PickleJar day use area parking lot on Highway 40,” RCMP said in a news release.

“Search teams also encountered a female grizzly bear and cub in the immediate area.”

The search resumed Monday morning, when teams found the man’s remains in the same area.

The remains of Rick Cross were found near PickleJar Lakes on Monday. RCMP believe he died of a fatal bear attack.